Woeful Chiefs hampered by injuries

Friday

Nov 21, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 21, 2008 at 8:17 PM

As most people who follow football are aware, the Kansas City Chiefs are struggling this year. Through 10 games, they have a 1-9 record and are on pace to shatter the franchise record for 12 losses in a season.

Cody Thorn

As most people who follow football are aware, the Kansas City Chiefs are struggling this year. Through 10 games, they have a 1-9 record and are on pace to shatter the franchise record for 12 losses in a season.

For those fans who have paid a little bit more attention lately, you have seen a team that has been decimated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive unit, ranked 32nd overall in the NFL, has been in flux since the middle of September due to injuries, and as the season has gone on, things haven’t gotten much better.

A good example of how tough things are for defensive coordinator Gunter Cunningham came last week against the New Orleans Saints.

Jason Babin started at defensive end for the Chiefs. This is the same Babin who signed as a “street” free agent on Nov. 14 and started at defensive end on Nov. 16.

And the linebackers, or lack thereof, was another situation for the Chiefs “D.”

Demorrio Williams and Donnie Edwards both play. Williams was coming back from a broken hand and Edwards was playing with a hamstring injury that forced him to leave the game in the second half against the Saints.

The other two starting linebackers for the Chiefs last Sunday?

None other than Weston Dacus and Rocky Boiman. I’m sure there are a few who muttered, “Who?” after reading those names.

Dacus is a rookie free agent who signed a contract from the team’s practice squad on Sept. 29. That is just one of 65 roster moves the Chiefs had made since the start of the season on Sept. 7.

Boiman was cut in training camp and was unemployed in the NFL until the Chiefs called and signed him Oct. 15.

That isn’t the only place where there is a revolving door. Injuries to Brandon Flowers and Patrick Surtain made the Chiefs sign Ricardo Colclough and David Macklin to free agent contracts on Nov. 6 and each played extensively in the Nov. 9 game.

In last week’s game, Oliver Celestin, who was signed Nov. 6, played his second game as a safety. Also in the secondary was DaJuan Morgan, a rookie, who was playing with a broken hand bandaged so much he was essentially playing with one hand.

The top tackler for the game against the Saints? That was Maurice Leggett, a rookie free agent cornerback.

“The bottom line is every team has issues with injuries; you still got to go out there and find a way to make plays and win ball games,” defensive back Jon McGraw said after the loss Sunday. “The defense and special teams … you are putting guys in there that are trying to learn the schemes, let alone what they will see the upcoming week. It’s no excuse. We get paid to win ball games and we aren’t doing it right now.”

Babin and Dacus will likely not start this week as Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali are both expected to be back from injury.

However, most Chiefs fans are likely holding their breath so nothing else goes awry this season. Facing a talented Buffalo team Sunday, the Chiefs will look to snap a six-game losing streak.

“Everything is a process … even the great teams you can think of have ups and downs,” said Turk McBride, who had seven tackles Sunday and was placed on the injured reserve Tuesday. “This … is what you would have to consider a learning experience.”